Awning



y 1952 D. M. CARPENTER ET AL 2,604,158

AWNING 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 4, 1949 .3 m n u fi 38w nm mm MN. t 1 T mw k R I It X y 1952 D. M. CARPENTER ET AL 2,604,158

AWNING 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1949 y 22{1952 D. M. CARPENTER ET AL AWN ING 4 Shee t-s-Sheet :5

Filed Aug. 4, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 AWNING D. M. CARPENTER ET AL .iI IIl I July 22, 1952 Filed Aug. 4, 1949 I. I I BIIlIblIl Ill l 8 S m8 Q Patented July 22, 1952 AWNING Dorothy M. Carpenter and Willis L. wells, Clayton, Mm; said Wells assignor to said Carpenter Application August 4, 1949, Serial No 108,543

This'invention relates to awnings, and more particularlyto Venetian blind type awnings.

In general, the awning of this invention resem bles a Venetian blind in comprisinga series of slats or louvers which may be r'etractedand extended and which, when extended, may be pivoted to various angular positions ranging from a fully opened position to a fully closed position It diners from the usual. Venetian blind in that it is particularly adapted for use in generally hori-' zontal or inclinedposition, as distinguishedfrom.

use in vertical positlon,'to serve as an overhead awning for outdoor areas, such as porch areas, thereby to provide shelter from the sun and rain when required. .With the awning mounted gen-' erally; horizontally or slightly inclined, gravityv cannot beutilized toextend the slats, and an important featurelof the invention is the provision] of meansfor positively moving theslats-irom retracted to extended; position so arranged as to permit the slats to-be pivoted to'various angular positions. Another important feature of the invention-is the provision or special slats which in closed position, interlock. at their edges in such manner that the awning isurain-tight. Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinaften,

The invention'accordinglycomprises the elementsjand combinations of elements, featuresor construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in thestructures hereinafter described, and the scope of :the application of which will be indicatedrin theioilowing claims.

1 din-the accompanying drawings; inwhich sev-v ventionare illustrated:

Fig. 1' is a plan generally in section: on line l'- -'-I of Fig. 2 or an awning embodying the invention, the slats oi the awning being shown in extended and. fully closed position, parts being broken away;

eral of .-various. possible embodimentso! the Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken online 2-4 I of 'Fig l, illustrating in dottedlines the slats in fully 'op'en position, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is'&. sectlontaken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, illustrating in dotted lines a slat, in fully open position;

Fig. 4 isa fragment time; illustrating the 4 Claims. (Cl. 160-472) 2 Fla 7 is a transverse section takeneon line 1-4 of Fig, 6;

Fig. 3 is a iragmentary longitudinal section taken on line 8-8 01' Fig. position of the slats; and,-

Fig 9 is a view similar to Fig; 8' illustrating an open and retracted position of the slats; g

Similar reference characters; indicate corresponding'parts throughout the severalviews of the drawings. Y

, Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1-4- illustrate an awning I embodyingthe invention. As shown.

'7, illustrating a closed the awning comprises an open rectangular frame;

3 consisting of side frame members 5- andfl and end frame members 9 and H. 'I'he irame is illustrated in Fig. 2 in a sloping l q ition such as it occupies when the awning is used as a roof.

The side frame membersand care identical. Each comprises a hollowbeam 13; formed of sheet metal, for example, provided with a slot l' iinthe wall of the beam toward the inside of the frame, the slot extending continuously from one end of the beam tothe other. vThe slats or the awning are designated H. The slots 15 in the beams l3 are somewhat wider than the slats- I1. The beams {3-, at their inside: upper edges,

are formed with a recess H to accommodate win-.

dow sash or screens flush with the frame (see; for example, the dotted outline of a window 2| illustrated ln Elg. ,3). Within 694101! beam I 3 159.

channel 23 fixed as' by spot weldingtto theinside: face of the outside wall of the beam IS with its 7 open sidetoward the slot "1 S-of'the b'eamel3. The channels 23, which constitute side guides for the slats- I'T, are arranged centrally vwith respect to the'slotsli.

, Each slat "I1- is provided with oppositelyfdirected narrow flanges 2 5 and flat its longitudinal edges. Theslats, as illustrated, are-formed of sheet metal and the flanges formed by bending over their longitudinal edges. Each slat is provided centrally at its ends with pins 29 sized for an easy sliding lit in the side; guide channels 23 of the side frame members 5 and 1. Each slat is also provided at each of its end edges with oppositely directed ears 31 and-- 33 located equal distances on oppositesides of the pin 29 at the respective end edge. These cars are formed by bending over integral portionsoi; the slat to extend perpendicular to the plane of the slat. In each ear is fixed a cord fastener 3-1., 7

The slats 11 extend transversely of the frame 3 with their ends extending into the beams l3 through slots [5' and with their end pins 25 slidably and pivotally mounted in the side guide designated: nagandas herein illustrated the slatwhich islo'c'a-t'ed adjacent the end" member II at the lower end of the sloping frame when the slats V are extended, is provided with special end pinsu d-d'ameter ends 35 'ournalled. 29a having red Ce 1 J "65 in appropriate angular position. By rotating in slides 31, the latter being slidable but nonrotary in the side guide channels- 23. 'I'hese" slides are attached to the cable 39' ofa ca-ble system, generally designated 41 f or extendin and retracting the slats. This cable system is schematically illustrated in Fig. 5. l V l The cable 39 has reaches 43 within the side guide channels, 23, extendingfrom the slides 31 to pulleys 45 located at the ends of the channels at .the. head. .end of the, frame. 3 wherenthe slats accumulate whenretracted. The pulleys 45 are rotary on horizontal studs 41 fixed to' the outside Walls oiithe beams I3 of the respective side frame members5 and 1 ;.;;,They are housed within heh amssl azan ere...qcete to uide the able from reaches 43 into reaches 49 extending un der the side guide channels 23 from theheadend of the frameto pulleys 5|,atthe otherend of the-frame. Bulleys 5l are rotary on studs 53 exend P r n ic ar to th an e f e within the beamsv I3 outward. of and below the n spttl es de.e dechan e .3-. P e 55 a rotary on the studs53; outward of and in line withithe I channels] 23.: Beaches v 51 of the cable 39 .exte'nd within the side guides from the slides 3-1 to th.pullejys 55. and reaches 59 extend trans versely ofthe frame at itslbwerfend iromjthe pulley-55 on-o'nefsi de of the frame to ithi l lley;

21 1 .t oth r."'r gaian me ii un t a the' cablemay be mo'vedin; one direction (in the directionfo'fthe arrows in Fig. tomove the end islat- 'l 1a -from the. lower end of th ei' frametoward thefjuppe'r ,en d and in the opposite direction to move ,thefsl'at Hit-in the opposite directidfi' H {:Ihe slats'are linkedtogether by control; cords 61 and 63 'on gash side of the frame. Cordsfii; extend the'lngthlof the frame within the beams, I and are attached to the slats by means of the cor'd fas'tenersfl in thelars 3 l.- Cords 63-extend the length of lthe 'frame: within the beams 13, and e ie h' i .;$1e b me ns o th cordfasteners 34 in the cars 33. The cords arefas tened tothe slats with the length .of eac h segmeiitpf h co d ext nd ng, f mcerdia i n r. of one slat tofthe cord. fast erof an adjacent of their respective pins-29 bythe cords 6i and 63.;

With the control levers 65 in the neutral position l l g iedin hea l ne i 2 nd w th 2,604,158 jjiil '4 slats fully extended, the cords 6| and 63 are taut and the slats occupy their fully open position perpendicular to the plane of the frame 3. By rotating the shaft 61 to rock the levers clockwise from neutral position to the solid line position illustrated in Fig. 2, the slats may be swung clockwise toward their fully closed position substantially coplanar with the frame wherein the flange 25, of eachslat isjjnterlocked with the flange 21 o'f the adjacent slat in'rain-tight fashion. The slats may be swung to any angular position intermediate their fully open and closed positions and retained in that position by retaining the levers .theshaft to rock the levers counterclockwise, the Q slats 'may be swung counterclockwise.

As diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 5, the cable 39 may be driven by taking one or more turns of the cable around an operating drum 69 at any convenient location, and driving the drum by an endless cable andpulley system 1|. The mode" of driving the cable'39fis' not material. It may be driven in many ways other than that specif cally mentioned; The 'shaft 65 may be turned by'any' suitable, mechanism such as a cable-operated wormgear and worm drive as is conventional in Venetian blinds. The slats are releasably latched in extended position to keep the cords. 6i and 63 taut by means of spring latches 13' fastened to the side guide channels 23 "andhaving detents 15 extending through apertures 11 in the upper wallsof ,the'channels for engagement with the en'ds'of the slides 31.

In the above-described awning 'I, the slats can i be swung about the axes o'f pins'29 only when the slats are in fully extended position or substantiallyso. In any other positionof the slats, the cords 6 I and 63 are loose'yandoperation of the control-levers 65 i'sinefiectivetoj'swing the slats. Figs.-' '6-8- illustrate a somewhatdifferent awning constructed 'to permit the slats flto be swung to 1 various angular positionsin various positions of extension. Y a v The awning 8| comprises an open rectangular frame 83 somewhat similar to'the frame 3 of the awning l comprising side frame members 85 and 81, and head end and foot end members 89 and 9I. The side frame memb'ersar'e identical, each comprising a hollow beam 93,- formed of sheet metal, for-example, having aslot opening to theinsideof the-frameand extending from one end of the beam to the other. The beams are formed with fiange portions 91 extending the lengthioftheilower margin? of the slots, and with recesses 99 at their .inner upper edges to accommodate window. sash .or.- screens; flush. with the frame 83. Guide strips lfliarefixed within each beam providing guide slots. 193.; aligned with. slots 95 and extending the :lengthqiif; thabeams.

.-'I;he slats. of the. awning 9|. are; designated I05.

Each slat has a pair of pivot pins. I91 located so that the slat may be pivotally mounted to swing about anaxis substantially coincident with one longitudinal edge of the slat nd a flange I09 'at its other longitudinal edge. fAsillustrated, each slat is formed of sheet "metal; lOne longitudinal edge of the slat 'is' b'entjaroundthe pivotpins 101 to form'a" flange III, with'the pins extending endwise from the corners of the slat. The other longitudinal edge of the siat'is bent over to form the flange I09. Flanges" Ill9 and II l; are oppositely directed- 1 Ti The slats l95'extendtran"verselyacross the frame with the pivot pins-161 extending into the beams. 93 through theslots .95. i The rounded flanges I I l of the slats. are slidable and swingable slats. If, howeverjthe slats are prevented; from' swinging, the sprockets will slip on the hubs. 1 On the outer ends of the pins I91 are forks I23. These have annular grooves I25 receiving the edges of guide strips IOI defining the guide slots I03. Y

Housed in the hollow beams BB are slat'extending and retracting screws I 21. These extend:

from one end of their respectivebeamsto'the other. As shown. each screw consists of a rod coiled into a longhelix; Itresembles a helical spring, but has no spring function. Throughout the greater length of a screw I21, the pitch of its convolutions or thread is somewhat less than the width of a slat, as indicated at I29 in Fig. 6. Adjacent the head end of the awning, where the slats are accumulated, the pitch of the convolutions or thread of the screws I21 is considerably reduced, as indicated at I3I. for slat-accumulating purposes. The head and foot ends I33 and I35 of the screws I21 extend, axially, and are journalled for rotation in the head and foot end members 99 and 9|. The forks I23 on the ends of the pivot pins mesh with the screws I2 1, -straddling the convolutions thereof The arrangement is such that by rotating the-screws I21 in one direction or the other, the forks I23 -may be moved to retract or extend the slats. With closepitch convolutions I3I at-the head end of the awning, and with the sprockets 119 on alternate pins I'il1on-opposite-sides of the awning, the slats may be closely accumulated at this end.

Also housed in the beams 93 are slat rotating screws I31. These also extend from one end of the respective beams to the other. Each screw I31 consists of a rod coiled into a long helix resembling a helical spring but having no spring function. The pitch of the convolutions or thread of the screws I31 is constant throughout their lengths. Sprockets II9 mesh with the screws I31. The arrangement is such that by rotating the screws I3 1 in one direction or the other, the slats may be frictionally driven and swung in one direction or the other. The head and foot ends I39 and MI of the screws I31 extend axially, and are journalled in the head and foot end members 89 and 9 I.

Mechanismfor driving the screws I21 and I31 to extend or retract the slats and to rotate them is generally designated I43. As shown, this mechanism includes a drive shaft I45 extending transversely across the frame 83 at its head end, journalled at its ends in the beams 93 as indicated at I41. Fixed on the head end I33 of one of the screws I21 (the screw in the side frame member 81 as illustrated) is a worm gear I49. This gear is in mesh with a worm II rotary on the shaft I45. The foot ends I35 of the screws I21 are coupled to rotate in unison by a chain and sprocket drive I55.

On the shaft I45 is a pulley I51 adapted to drive the worm I5I through a clutch I59 comprising a driving clutch element IGI on the pulley and a driven clutch element I63 on the worm. A cable I65 is provided to rotate the pulley I51. The pulley I51 is axially movable on the shaft and is biased in clutch-disengaging direction by a spring I61. It is provided with a cam element I69 fcooperablelwith a cam element I1 I fixed on theshaft. Cam-element "I, as illustrated, is formed as a part of another pulley I 13 pinned on the shaft I45.'A' cablefi I15 is providedto rotate the pulley I13 and the shaft. .The head ends I39 of the screws I31 have bevelgears I11 fixed thereon. .--These are in mesh with bevel gears I19 fixed onthe shaft I45; 7 J i To extend or retract the "slatstl05, the cable I65 is pulled to rotate the pulley I51 in appropriate direction. This causes the pulley to be cammed to the right as illustrated in Fig. 6 by the. action of cam element I69 against cam element-I H to engage the clutch I59 and therebyto drive the worm I5 I. The pulley I13 and the shaft I45 resist rotation until the clutch-is engaged. Theworm I 5I thereupon rotates the screws I21 to extend or retract the slats,.according to the direc-- tionof rotation ofthe wormmAs soon as the clutch I59 is engaged, the pulley I51 drives the shaft I45 through the cam elements I69 and HI.

This drives the screws [31 throughtheir bevel gear -drives to .rotate thesprockets H9 in such manner as tocause the slats to remain at whateverl'angular position they occupied at the start of the retracting or extending operation. It will be noted that as the slats are extended or retracted, they would be rotated duetothe meshing of-the sprockets. I53 with the screws I31 except for. this actionoftthe screws I31 toretain-the slats in'theiroriginalangular position. I

' To swing the slats to different angular positions, the cord I15 is pulled to rotate the pulley I13 and the shaft I45 in appropriate direction.

Under these circumstances, the clutch I59 remains disengaged, and the worm I5I is not driven so that the slats are not extended or retracted. Rotation of the shaft drives the screws I31 to rotate the sprockets I53 and swing the slats. In the closed position of the slats, the flanges I99 of one slat interlock with the flanges III of the adjacent slat in rain-tight fashion.

Inview of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. An awning comprising side guides, slats having their ends slidably and pivotally mounted in the side guides, slat extending and retracting screws extending lengthwise of the side guides, means on the slats meshing'with the screws whereby, upon rotation of the screws in one direction or the other, the slats may be retracted and accumulated at one end of the side guides or moved away from said end to extended positions, slat rotating screws extending lengthwise of the side guides, and means on the slats meshand'accumulated atone end 'of the side, guides or moved away from said end to extended'positions, slat rotating screws extending lengthwise of theside guides, and means on the slats meshing with the slat rotating screws whereby, upon rotation of the slat rotating screws in one direction or the other, the slats may be swung to various angular positions about axes extending lengthwise of the slats.

3. An awning comprising side guides, slats having pivot pins on their ends 'slidably and pivotally-mounted in the side guides, slat extending and" retracting screws extending the length of therside guides, forks on the ends of the pivot pins, meshing with the slat extending and retractingscrews, slat rotating screws extending lengthwise of the side guides, sprockets on the pivot pins meshing with the slat rotating screws; mechanism for driving the slat extending and retracting screws and the slat rotating screws in unison and for driving the slat rotating screws independently of the. slat extending and retracting screws comprising a drive shaft geared to the slat rotating screws, a driving clutch element axially shiftable on the shaft, a driven clutch element rotary on the shaft geared to drive the slat extending and retracting screws, andcam means for shifting the driving clutch element into engagement with the driven clutch element when the driving clutch element'is rotated relative to the shaft, said cam means there-, upon acting togdrive the shaft from the driving clutch element; V

4. An awning comprising side guides, slats having pivot pins on their ends slidably and pivotally mounted'in the side guides, slat extending1and retractingscrews extending the length of the side guides, forks on the ends of the pivot pins ;meshing with; the slat extending and re.- trajcting screws, slat rotating screws extending lengthwise of the side guides, sprockets onjthe pivot pins meshing with the slat rotating screws, mechanism for driving the slat extending and retracting screws andthe slat rotating screws in unison and for driving the slat rotating screwsindependently of the slat extending and retract-1 ing screws comprising a drive shaft gearedto v y R FnRENoEs CITED The following references are of recordin the file of this patent:

UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 279,8 35 Smith; June 19, 1833 573,659 Hoyer Dec. 22, 1896 1,244,215 Lancaster Oct. 23, 1917 2,110,725 Grassby, Jr. Mar. 8, 1938 2,135,647 Streby i- Nov. 8, 193 2,158,454 Zubiria. May 16, 1939 2,207,393 Anderson July 9, 1940 2,242,697 Duca May 20, 1941 

